This category honors Chicago Public School alumni who have distinguished themselves in their fields and whose accomplishments are unassailable.

1st. Lt. Harold Ernst Goettler

Recognized Achievement:
Congressional Medal of Honor
CPS Schools Attended:
Carter Elementary School

Abelino "Abe" Quintero

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
W.K. Sullivan

Abram Nicholas Pritzker

Recognized Achievement:
CEO/President of Fortune 1000 Company
Forbes 400
CPS Schools Attended:
Schurz

Admiral Bruce DeMars

Recognized Achievement:
US Military – General or Admiral
CPS Schools Attended:
Farragut High School

Adrian Zmed

Achievement:
Actor
CPS Schools Attended:
Albert G. Lane Technical High School

Alderman Gene Schulter

Achievement:
Chicago Alderman
CPS Schools Attended:
Audubon Elementary School

Alice Hayes Phillips

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Harlan High School
Bennett Elementary School
McCosh Elementary School

Amelia Earhart

Achievement:
Pilot, Pioneer
CPS Schools Attended:
Hyde Park High School

Andrew Davis

Achievement:
Film Director
CPS Schools Attended:
Bowen High School

Andy and Larry Wachowski

Achievement:
Writers and Director of The Matrix
CPS Schools Attended:
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
Kate S. Kellogg Elementary School

Anise "Necey" Noble-Anderson

Achievement:
Track and Field All-American
CPS Schools Attended:
Dunbar Voc. High School
Ryder Elem School

Anita Pankratz

Achievement:
Miss Illinois 1971
CPS Schools Attended:
Roosevelt High School

Anna Davlantes

Recognized Achievement:
Emmy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Walt Disney Magnet School
Albert G. Lane Technical High School

Anna Langford

Achievement:
Civil Rights Attorney, Alderman
CPS Schools Attended:
Hyde Park High School

Anne Kavanagh

Recognized Achievement:
Emmy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Albert G. Lane Technical High School

Annette D. Gurley

CPS Leadership Role:
Officer
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Penn Elementary School
Medill Elementary School
Lindblom High School

Annette Rogers Kelly

Recognized Achievement:
Olympic Medal Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Nicholas Senn High School

Arthur Weber

Achievement:
Entrepreneur, Publisher
CPS Schools Attended:
Crane High School

Ascencion V. Juarez

CPS Leadership Role:
Officer
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Sullivan

Barbara Minkus

Achievement:
Comedienne, Singer, Actress
CPS Schools Attended:
Bateman Elementary

Benny Goodman

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
Kennedy Center Honors Recipient
CPS Schools Attended:
Shepard Elementary School
Harrison High School

Bernard Shaw

Recognized Achievement:
Emmy Winner
Peabody Award
CPS Schools Attended:
William W. Carter High School
Dunbar Vocational High School

Bernarr Everett Dawson

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
Superintendent/CEO
CPS Schools Attended:
Tilden Technical High School
DuSable
Calumet

Bernie Mac

Achievement:
Actor, Comedian
CPS Schools Attended:
Chicago Vocational School

Bo Diddley

Recognized Achievement:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
CPS Schools Attended:
Willard Elementary School
John Foster Elementary School

Bob Berland

Recognized Achievement:
Olympic Medal Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Mather High School

Bob Fosse

Recognized Achievement:
Drama Desk
Emmy Winner
Oscar Winner
Palme d’Or
Tony Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Ravenswood Elementary School
Roald Amundsen High School

Bob Sirott

Recognized Achievement:
Emmy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Roosevelt High School

Bobby Simmons

Achievement:
Professional NBA player. Received the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 2005
CPS Schools Attended:
Simeon Career Academy High School

Burr Tillstrom

Recognized Achievement:
Emmy Winner
Peabody Award
CPS Schools Attended:
Nicholas Senn High School

Cappie Pondexter

Recognized Achievement:
MVP - Professional Sport
Olympic Medal Winner
WNBA - Champion
CPS Schools Attended:
John Marshall Metropolitan High School

Carl Dasko

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Robert Lindblom H.S.

Carmel Bernon Harvey Jr.

Recognized Achievement:
Congressional Medal of Honor
CPS Schools Attended:
George Washington High School

Carole Simpson

Recognized Achievement:
Emmy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Wadsworth Elementary School
Hyde Park High School

Chaka Khan

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Kenwood Academy

Charles (Chuck) Smith

Recognized Achievement:
Emmy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Parker High ( now Robeson)

Cheryl Burton

Recognized Achievement:
Emmy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Lindblom High School

Cheryl Watkins

CPS Leadership Role:
Golden Apple Award Winner for Excellence in Teaching
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Dunbar High School

Chris Zorich

Achievement:
Professional Football Player  
CPS Schools Attended:
Chicago Vocational High School

Christopher Kotis

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Beaubien Elementary School

Chuck Schaden

Achievement:
Broadcaster/radio historian, Radio Hall of Fame
CPS Schools Attended:
Steinmetz High School

Clayton Moore

Achievement:
The Lone Ranger
CPS Schools Attended:
Hayt Elementary
Sullivan Jr. High School
Senn High School

Cliff Kelly

Achievement:
Radio Host, Former Chicago Alderman
CPS Schools Attended:
Carver High School

Clifford "Cliff" Aberson

Achievement:
Professional Football and Baseball Player
CPS Schools Attended:
Pierce Elementary
Senn High School

Congressman Luis Gutierrez

Recognized Achievement:
US Congressman
CPS Schools Attended:
Walter L. Newberry Academy

Cozette Buckney

CPS Leadership Role:
Superintendent/CEO
CPS Schools Attended:
Ruggles Elementary

Craig Robinson

Achievement:
Actor
CPS Schools Attended:
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

Creadel "Red" Jones

Achievement:
Singer
CPS Schools Attended:
Shakespeare Elementary
Hyde Park High School

Curtis Mayfield

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
CPS Schools Attended:
Wells High School

Dan Jorndt

Recognized Achievement:
CEO/President of Fortune 1000 Company
CPS Schools Attended:
Jamieson Elementary School
Amundsen High School

Darlene Pollard

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Oglesby Elementary School

David Blackmon

Achievement:
Professional Chef/TV Personality
CPS Schools Attended:
Burnside Scholastic Academy
Lindblom Technical High School

David Cerda

Achievement:
First Hispanic lawyer in Illinois to have been elected a judge of the Cook County Circuit Court and to serve as a justice of the Illinois Appellate Court.
CPS Schools Attended:
Farragut High School

David Mamet

Recognized Achievement:
Pulitzer Prize
CPS Schools Attended:
Isabelle C. O'Keefe Elementary School

Demarre McGill

Achievement:
Musician
CPS Schools Attended:
Poe classical and Kenwood High School

Dempsey Travis

Achievement:
Author, Historian, Entrepreneur, Civic Leader
CPS Schools Attended:
DuSable High School

Dennis DeYoung

Achievement:
Rock Star, Composer
CPS Schools Attended:
Bennett Elementary School
Harlan High School

Deon Thomas

Achievement:
Professional basketball in Europe and Israel
CPS Schools Attended:
Simeon Career Academy High School

Derrick Rose

Achievement:
Professional Basketball Player, NBA  
CPS Schools Attended:
Beasley Elementary School
Simeon High School

Deval Patrick

Recognized Achievement:
Governor
CPS Schools Attended:
DuSable Upper Grade Center

Dick Butkus

Recognized Achievement:
NFL – Hall of Fame
CPS Schools Attended:
Chicago Vocational School

Dinah Washington

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
CPS Schools Attended:
DuSable High School

Don Cornelius

Achievement:
Creater, Producer, and Host of Soul Train
CPS Schools Attended:
DuSable High School

Don Myrick

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Englewood High School

Dr. Barbara Sydney Stein

Achievement:
Internationally Acclaimed Veterinary Practitioner
CPS Schools Attended:
Bateman Elementary School

Dr. Eunice (Zolezzi) Madon

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Steinmetz High School, class of June 1960 (unkwown grammar school)

Dr. Felicia P. Stewart

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Ruggles Elementary School
Lindblom High School

Dr. James C Griggs Jr.

Recognized Achievement:
College/University President
CPS Schools Attended:
Medill High School

Dr. Joseph J. Connery

CPS Leadership Role:
Officer
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Hirsch High School

Dr. Joseph P. Atria

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Steinmetz High School
Cameron Elementary School

Dr. Julius Richmond

Recognized Achievement:
US Surgeon General
CPS Schools Attended:
Marshall

Dr. Michelle R. Willis

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Mt. Vernon Elementary School
Whitney Young Magnet High School

Dr. Susan Solomon

Recognized Achievement:
National Medal of Science
Nobel Prize
CPS Schools Attended:
Hannah G. Solomon Elementary School
Von Steuben High School

Dr. Warletta Johnson-Brookins

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Hubbard High
Salazar Bilingual Center
Fulton elementary

Eddie Thomas

Recognized Achievement:
Peabody Award
CPS Schools Attended:
Wendell Phillips High School

Edgar Bergen

Recognized Achievement:
Oscar Winner
Peabody Award
CPS Schools Attended:
Albert G. Lane Technical High School
Lakeview High School

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Recognized Achievement:
New York Times Best Seller List
CPS Schools Attended:
Harvard Elementary School

Edward Gardner

Achievement:
Entrepreneur, CPS Educator
CPS Schools Attended:
Ryder - Branch School
Fenger High School

Eldee Young

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
McKinley High School

Eli Grba

Recognized Achievement:
MLB – World Series Champion
CPS Schools Attended:
John L. Marsh Elementary
James H. Bowen High School

Eliot Ness

Achievement:
Prohibition Agent for the Treasury Department
CPS Schools Attended:
George M. Pullman Elementary School
Christian Fenger High School

Ella Jenkins

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Phillips Elementary School
DuSable High School

Ellis Cose

Achievement:
Journalist
CPS Schools Attended:
Albert G. Lane Technical High School

Emilie Kaim

Achievement:
Master Teacher
CPS Schools Attended:
Bell School

Ernie Terrell

Recognized Achievement:
Heavyweight Boxing Champion
CPS Schools Attended:
Farragut High School

Ethan Stoller

Achievement:
Composer
CPS Schools Attended:
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

Eugene Record

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Englewood

Felicia P Fields

Achievement:
Actress
CPS Schools Attended:
Deneen Elementary
Von Steuben High School

Frances Garcia

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
William K. Sullivan Elementary
James H. Bowen High School

Frank M. Clark

Recognized Achievement:
CEO/President of Fortune 1000 Company
CPS Schools Attended:
Hirsch Metropolitan School of Communications

Frankie Laine

Achievement:
21 Gold Records. Number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Charts.
CPS Schools Attended:
Lane Technical High School

Fred Holstein

Achievement:
Folk Singer
CPS Schools Attended:
Hookway Elementary
South Shore High School

Fred Marsh

Achievement:
Major League Baseball Player (1949-1956)
CPS Schools Attended:
Steinmetz High School

Freddy Rodriguez

Achievement:
Actor
CPS Schools Attended:
Lincoln Park High School

Frederick "Fritz" Pollard, Jr.

Recognized Achievement:
Olympic Medal Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Nicholas Senn High School

Fritz Pollard

Recognized Achievement:
NFL – Hall of Fame
NFL – Super Bowl Champion
CPS Schools Attended:
Albert G. Lane Technical High School

Gale Thompson Baker

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Hirsch High

Gary Comer

Recognized Achievement:
Forbes 400
CPS Schools Attended:
Revere Elementary School

Gene Ammons

Achievement:
Celebrated Saxophonist
CPS Schools Attended:
DuSable High School

Gene Siskel

Achievement:
Film Critic
CPS Schools Attended:
Stephen T. Mather High School

George E. Johnson

Recognized Achievement:
CEO/President of Fortune 1000 Company
CPS Schools Attended:
Doolittle Elementary School
Wendell Phillips High School

George Furth

Recognized Achievement:
Tony Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
O'Toole

George Gobel

Recognized Achievement:
Emmy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Theodore Roosevelt High School

George S Halas

Recognized Achievement:
NFL – Hall of Fame
NFL – Super Bowl Champion
CPS Schools Attended:
Peter Cooper Elementary School
Crane Technical High School

George Wilson

Recognized Achievement:
Olympic Medal Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
John Marshall High School

Gloria Roman

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Von Humboldt
Tuley High School

Gwendolyn Brooks

Recognized Achievement:
American Academy of Arts and Letters Award
National Book Award
Pulitzer Prize
CPS Schools Attended:
Forrestville Elementary School
Willard Elementary School
Hyde Park Academy High School
Englewood High School

H. Robert Horvitz

Recognized Achievement:
Nobel Prize
CPS Schools Attended:
DeWitt Clinton Elementary

Harold Lee Rush

Achievement:
Radio Personality
CPS Schools Attended:
Burnside Elementary
Shoop Elementary
Lewis-Champlain Elementary
Lindblom Technical High School
Englewood High School

Harold Ramis

Achievement:
Prominent Writer, Director, Actor
CPS Schools Attended:
Nicolas Senn High School

Harold Washington

Recognized Achievement:
Mayor – Major Metropolitan City
US Congressman
CPS Schools Attended:
DuSable High School

Harrison Ford

Recognized Achievement:
Golden Globe
CPS Schools Attended:
Graeme Stewart Elementary School

Harry M. Markowitz

Recognized Achievement:
Nobel Prize
CPS Schools Attended:
Scammon Elementary
Schurz High School

Harvey Korman

Recognized Achievement:
Emmy Winner
Golden Globe
CPS Schools Attended:
Nicholas Senn High School

Harvey Walden IV

Achievement:
Marine Drill Instructor, Television Personality
CPS Schools Attended:
Harlan

Haskell Wexler

Recognized Achievement:
Oscar Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Nettelhorst
Sullivan Jr. High
Sullivan High School

Herb Kent

Achievement:
Legendary Radio Personality
CPS Schools Attended:
Hyde Park High School

Herbert C. Brown

Recognized Achievement:
Nobel Prize
CPS Schools Attended:
Haven Elementary School
Englewood High School

Herbie Hancock

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
Oscar Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Hyde Park Academy High School

Holmes 'Daddy-O' Daylie

Achievement:
Professional Basketball Player, Radio Personality
CPS Schools Attended:
Shoop Elementary School
Morgan Park High School

Honorable Blanche M. Manning

Achievement:
United States District Court Judge
CPS Schools Attended:
Fenger High School

Howard Miller

Achievement:
Radio Personality
CPS Schools Attended:
Austin High School

Hugh Hefner

Recognized Achievement:
CEO/President of Fortune 1000 Company
CPS Schools Attended:
Harriet E. Sayre Language Academy
Charles P. Steinmetz Academic Center

James "JY" Young

Achievement:
Guitarist for the band Styx
CPS Schools Attended:
Calumet

James Watson

Recognized Achievement:
Nobel Prize
CPS Schools Attended:
Horace Mann Elementary School
South Shore High School

Jay Noel Yuenger

Achievement:
Musician
CPS Schools Attended:
Bret Harte Elementary
Kenwood Academy
Chicago School for the Performing Arts

Jennifer Hudson

Recognized Achievement:
Oscar Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Dunbar Vocational High School

Jeremy Rifkin

Recognized Achievement:
New York Times Best Seller List
CPS Schools Attended:
Morgan Park High School

Jerome I. Friedman

Recognized Achievement:
Nobel Prize
CPS Schools Attended:
Ryerson Elementary
Marshall High School

Jerry Bob Kelly

Achievement:
Executive Director, Civic Leader
CPS Schools Attended:
Beidler
John Marshall High School

Jerry Butler

Recognized Achievement:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
CPS Schools Attended:
Washburne

Jewel LaFontant-MANkarious

Recognized Achievement:
Ambassador
CPS Schools Attended:
Willard Elementary School
Englewood High School

Jim Cantalupo

Recognized Achievement:
CEO/President of Fortune 1000 Company
CPS Schools Attended:
Kelvyn Park High School 1965

Jim Grabowski

Recognized Achievement:
NFL – Super Bowl Champion
CPS Schools Attended:
Taft High School

Jim Jacobs

Recognized Achievement:
Tony Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Taft High School

Joan Higginbotham

Recognized Achievement:
Astronaut
CPS Schools Attended:
Whitney M. Young Magnet School

Joe Fiorentino

Achievement:
MMA and Grappling Champion
CPS Schools Attended:
ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL

Joe Kallas

CPS Leadership Role:
Officer
National Board Certified Teacher
CPS Schools Attended:
Fenger
E.A. Poe
Van Vlissingen
Kohn

Joe Soto

Achievement:
Chicago Radio Personality on V103
CPS Schools Attended:
Farragut High School

Joe Williams

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Englewood

John C. Reilly

Achievement:
Oscar and Tony Nominated Actor
CPS Schools Attended:
Eberhart Elementary School

John Calamos

Recognized Achievement:
Forbes 400
CPS Schools Attended:
Hay School
Austin High School

John Gunther

Recognized Achievement:
New York Times Best Seller List
CPS Schools Attended:
Lake View High School

John H. Johnson

Recognized Achievement:
Forbes 400
Presidential Medal of Freedom
CPS Schools Attended:
DuSable High School

John Jakes

Recognized Achievement:
New York Times Best Seller List
CPS Schools Attended:
Peirce Elementary School
Senn High School

John Podesta

Achievement:
White House Chief of Staff
CPS Schools Attended:
Albert G. Lane Technical High School

John Tobias

Achievement:
Video Game Creator
CPS Schools Attended:
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

Johnny Griffin

Achievement:
Acclaimed Saxophonist
CPS Schools Attended:
DuSable High School

Johnny Washington

Recognized Achievement:
Silver Star*
CPS Schools Attended:
Morgan Park High School

Johnny Weissmuller

Recognized Achievement:
Olympic Medal Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Lane Technical High School

Jose Rico

CPS Leadership Role:
Principal
CPS Schools Attended:
Whitney Young

Joseph Reese Guttman, M.D.

Achievement:
Ground Breaking Medical Doctor
CPS Schools Attended:
Carpenter School
Waller High School

Judge John D. Turner

Achievement:
Cook County Circuit Court Judge
CPS Schools Attended:
Lindblom

Justina Machado

Achievement:
Actress
CPS Schools Attended:
Albert G. Lane Technical High School

Juwan Howard

Achievement:
Professional Basketball Player
CPS Schools Attended:
Chicago Vocational High School

Kanye West

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Vanderpoel Elementary School

Keena Turner

Recognized Achievement:
NFL – Super Bowl Champion
CPS Schools Attended:
Chicago Vocational High School

Kelvin Hayden

Recognized Achievement:
NFL – Super Bowl Champion
CPS Schools Attended:
Hubbard High School

Kevin Garnett

Recognized Achievement:
MVP - Professional Sport
NBA – NBA Champion
CPS Schools Attended:
Farragut High School

Kim Novak

Achievement:
Actress  
CPS Schools Attended:
Farragut High School

Kirby Puckett

Recognized Achievement:
MLB – Hall of Fame
MLB – World Series Champion
CPS Schools Attended:
Calumet High School

Knute Rockne

Achievement:
Legendary Football Coach
CPS Schools Attended:
Brentano Elementary
Northwest Division High School

L. Scott Caldwell

Recognized Achievement:
Obie Award
Tony Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Hyde Park High School

Larry Ellison

Recognized Achievement:
CEO/President of Fortune 1000 Company
Forbes 400
CPS Schools Attended:
South Shore High School

Larry Henderson

Achievement:
First Illinois National Guard Drill Sergeant
CPS Schools Attended:
Miles Davis Academy

Lillian Tynes Perry

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Lindblom Technical High School
James McCosh Elementary School

Lorraine Hansberry

Recognized Achievement:
Drama Desk
CPS Schools Attended:
Betsy Ross Elementary School
Englewood High School

Lou Rawls

Recognized Achievement:
Grammy Winner
CPS Schools Attended:
Forrestville Elementary School
Dunbar Vocational High School

Louis Carr

Achievement:
Business and Civic Leader
CPS Schools Attended:
Beidler Elementary School
Morton Jr. High School
Albert G. Lane High School

Louis Lason

Achievement: